This bridal season, Vivienne Westwood is presenting three impressive capsule collections: made-to-order, couture, and Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood. In line with the fashion house’s sustainable ethos, every look was designed, sampled, and hand-crafted locally in England to minimize the brand’s carbon footprint and crafted with traditional tailoring techniques.
The made-to-order offering includes 15 ethereal gowns and nine separate styling pieces with a “from another world, sculpted for goddesses” mantra. At the same time, contemporary exposed corsetry and layered tulle keep the romance that oh so many brides-to-be pine for front and center. Everyone will also be pleased to know that all fabrics used are environmentally conscious and include ivory recycled tulle and an FSC-certified viscose, as a vegan alternative to silk and satin.
Symbolizing renewal, floral details are woven throughout the made-to-order collection. 3D flowers are adorned on the mini Venus dress, while embroidered petals and ivy cascade down the body of the Rhea column gown. And embroidered leaves on tulle give emulate confetti falling on the Princess dress. For those looking for more drama, the Freyja and Hera have fuller skirts that are sure to leave an impact.
The Vivienne Westwood Bridal 2022 Couture Collection, like the made-to-order selection, takes inspiration from influential women, from ancient Greece to modern times. Drawing on these muses, the bridal looks feature historical cuts and contemporary silhouettes with crystal and pearl embroidery, signature Chantilly lace, and 3D floral detailing. The symbols of romance and its flair are not lost in the collection—roses sit on draping of lace and tulle, hidden love notes are embroidered onto transparent veils, and opera coat finished with ostrich feathers complete the avant-garde assortment.
One also can’t help but notice the Audrey gown is nodding quite emphatically to a look Audrey Hepburn’s character Eliza Doolittle wears in My Fair Lady, which was also noted as the inspiration for Kendall Jenner’s latest Met Gala ensemble. And the construction of the Antoinette dress and its on-display boning will have fans of period entertainment like Bridgerton and The Gilded Age filled with glee.
The last capsule, Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood Spring 2022 Bespoke Bridal, was taken directly from the Spring 2022 runway collection presented in Paris and experiments with proportions. Inspirations vary from Marilyn Monroe’s classic ’50s hourglass silhouettes to 18th-century Versailles court dress. The four looks feature beaded tulle, while silk moiré, draped Chantilly lace, white feathers, silk taffeta bows, and patchwork tulle boleros—in other words, not for the minimalist.
And in an effort to prioritize quality and longevity of these special gowns, Vivienne Westwood’s couture team is now offering a service to transform each bridal gown post-wedding through a selection of offset luxury fabrics, dying processes, silhouette alterations, embroidery, beading, appliqué, and bespoke finishings. All alterations will be hand-crafted by Westwood couturiers in the London atelier to carefully and expertly extend the life and wearability of the original bridal design.
